Nicholas Lowinger

Summary:​ Nicholas Lowinger first realized how fortunate he was at the young age of five. He was accompanying his mother to work at a shelter in RI. He had just received brand new light-up shoes and was excited to show them off. His mother cautioned him against boasting and explained that having new fancy shoes was a luxury. Thereafter he donated his old shoes to the shelter.

At the age of 12 Nicholas formed the Gotta Have Sole Foundation. “I didn’t want to make one donation and stop there,” he said. “I wanted it to be something I could do for the rest of my life.” Since 2010 Nicholas’s organization has expanded to include more than 1,000 volunteers and has donated new footwear to over 23,500 children in homeless shelters in 35 states throughout the United States. “By giving new footwear to homeless children, I’m making sure them and their families have at least one less thing to worry about,” he said. Nicholas believes in the ability of children to make a change in the lives of other people. “No one is ever too young or old to help others,” he said. “I urge other kids to find a passion, create big ideas and act. Kids can make a huge difference in this world.”